210 W Main Street
U.S. Assay Office Pathway and Landscaping Project

A Type 1 Participation Program Project to support public open space improvements.

210 W Main Street – U.S. Assay Office. Photo by Matthew Wordell.

Background  

The U.S. Assay Office is a National Historic Landmark located in the River-Myrtle/Old Boise Urban Renewal District on 1.79-acres. The building currently hosts the State Historical Preservation Office and the Archaeological Survey of Idaho. The surrounding grounds are open to public use and serve as a park and open space for neighboring residents, downtown workers, and nearby childcare centers 

The project was led by the Foundation for Idaho History (FIH), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which serves as the fundraising, fund management, and endowment organization that supports and promotes Idaho history through the work of the Idaho State Historical Society, a state agency.  

 

Project Summary 

The U.S. Assay Office Pathway and Landscaping Project, located at 210 W Main Street, is a Type 1 Participation Program project with Foundation of Idaho History (FIH). This project aligned with the goals of the River Myrtle/Old Boise District by improving the largest park-like public space in this area for residents and employees, adding to the livability of downtown and honoring our city’s history through a new interpretive pathway. The multi-phase project restored the landscaping on the lot to match the historic blueprints and photos of the 1920’s and 1930’s as well as added amenities for visitors. Project improvements include: 

  • Installation of a new interpretive pathway with signage engaging visitors with historic facts about the use of land from Indigenous people to present day and the architectural significance of the building 
  • Installation of public use amenities, including benches and pet waste stations 
  • Addition of more than 200 plantings, including 20 trees. 13 of those trees were planted in the public right-of-way along 3rd Street and Main Street to improve the comfort and safety of those using the sidewalk 
  • Replacement of the existing irrigation system 

This project was completed in August 2024. 

 

Contact 

For project specific questions, please contact CCDC Project Manager, Kassi Brown.